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Results of Informal Discussions and Semistructured Interviews on Estimating Retail-Level Loss Factors for the Loss-Adjusted Food Availability (LAFA) Data Series

  • by Smit Vasquez Caballero, Sheryl C. Cates, Mary K. Muth, Erin Love and Daden Goldfinger
  • 1/21/2025
  • CCR-73

Overview

Food loss and waste is a challenge both nationally and globally and has implications for nutrition security, environmental sustainability, and economic growth. USDA, Economic Research Service contracted with RTI International to conduct exploratory research to assess the feasibility of a potential nationally representative survey to measure retail food loss. This report documents the results of informal discussions with food retail chains, trade associations, and other organizations. The study collected information on whether and how retailers track food loss; the availability of data on product shipments, product sales, and donations and other information for estimating food loss; retailers’ ideas for recruiting participants for a national study and their own willingness to participate; and potential nonmonetary incentives that might encourage retailer participation in the future. This report provides key findings and recommendations regarding a potential national study on retail food loss.

Note: Appendices will posted as soon as they are available.

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